Leighton Baines has insisted that John Stones has the support of the Everton players despite failing to force through a move to Chelsea.
The 21-year-old defender had a transfer request turned down as the Blues made attempts to sign him before the summer transfer window closed.
Baines has admitted that he does have some sympathy with the situation that Stones finds himself in.
"It has been relentless, particularly for John. Seeing him first hand on a daily basis, it's been difficult for him to deal with. He's still a young lad," Baines told Everton's official website.
"It's dragged on for such a long time and he'll be happy now to see the end of it. John knows how to play football - he's being doing it all his life - but he hasn't had to cope with situations like this before.
"It's John who has to pick himself up now, dust himself down and move forward, and we've supported him all the way through it as a club and inside the dressing room."
Stones is contracted to Everton until 2019.
Steven Toplis
